Traffic-guide-line marker



Filed March 15, 1926 Sheets-Sheet 1 lV/TA/ESSES gnmntoz WW atto'unu July 9, 1929.

H. HENRY TRAFFIC GUIDE LINE MARKER Filed March 13 1926 WTA/ESS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 gnuzntoz W06 HENRY y 9, 1929- H. HENRY 1.720.273

TRAFFIC GUIDE LINE MARKER Filed March 13, 1926 I 4 Shets-Sheet a 4 I I M A 9, 1929. H. HENRY 1.720.273

TRAFFIC GUIDE LINE MARKER Filed March 13 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Z I I I!!! I Patented July 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES HUGH HENRY, OF SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA.

rmrIc-oumn-LINE MARKER.

Application filed March 18, 1926. Serial No. 94,518.

This invention relates totrafiic guide line markers, and has more particular reference to an apparatus for marking or pamting a longitudinal center line upon paved roads and highways for the safe guidance of motor vehicle trafiic.

It is the present practice to paint or mark a guide line upon the longitudinal center of roads and highways so that the drivers of motor vehicles may readily keep to the side of the road and at all times allow sufficient room for the passage of traffic moving in an opposite direction, thereby reducing the danger of collisions, especially when driving at night. Heretofore, the marking or painting of these traflic guide lines upon roads and highways has been a diflicult, slow and expensive operation, and even though great care has been exercised, the guide lines have been more or less crooked, of non-uniform width, and without straight edges. Moreover, when the guide lines are marked by hand painting, the workers are subjected to great danger with traffic passing by on either side.

The primary object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide an apparatus by means of which the longitudinal center or traflic guide line may be marked upon paved roads and highways in an accurate and true manner as well as with facility and a minimum expense.

A further object is to provide a traflic guide line marker of the above kind which is extremely simple and durable in construction, as well as eflicient in operation, and which may be placed into practical operation without especially skilled labor or subjection of the attending workers to a great amount of danger of injury from passing traffic.

A further object is to provide a traffic line marker 'of the above kind b means of which the guide lines may be mar ed in such manner as to readily dry so that the same will not be marred or the marking fluid tracked over the road or highway, by the wheels of motor vehicles passing over the guide line a short time after the line is marked.

With the above general objects in view, and others that will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement ofparts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and claimed.

In the drawings, wherein like reference gure 1 is a side elevational view of a traflic guide line marker constructed in accordance with the present invention and operatively associated with a towing truck supporting the supply of marking fluid;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a rear elevational view thereof;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view, partly broken away, illustratmg the spraying nozzle and associated part-s ad acent the inner supporting wheel of the line marking apparatus shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive; I

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view partly in section and partly in elevation, illustrating the detail construction of the spray nozzle";

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken upon line 6-6 of Figure 5; 1

Figure 7 is an end elevational view looking toward the right of Figure 5; and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary front elevational view showing the spray nozzle shield and runners and the adjacent nozzle supporting clamp.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the form of the invention shown embodies a transversely elongated rigid frame 5 of a width slightly greater than one half of the width of the roadway 6 upon which the longitudinal center or traffic guide line 7 is to be marked. These roads are usually paved in longitudinal half sections, the division line of which is indicated at 8, and the inner side of the frame 5 is supported upon a small supporting wheel 9 adapted to assume a position beyond the division line 8 as clearly shown in Figure 2. The frame 5 is referably constructed of strips or bars 0 metal suitably braced as shown so as to present a strong but light construction having a relatively wide outer side sup orted upon relatively small supporting w eels 10 arranged in tandem relation. The supporting wheels 9 and 10 are adapted to ride upon the surface of. the paved roadway so as to support the frame 5 in a horizontal position and in close proximity to the surface of the roadway as shown clearly in Figure 3. The supporting wheels 10 at the outer side of the frame 5 are provided on .their outer sides with annular flanges 11 arranged to engage the adjacent edge of the roadway as shown in Figure 3 so that when the marking apparatus is drawn forwardly, the same will=be effectively guided in a proper line of travel as will presently become apparent.

As shown, the frame 5 is constructed to embody a central transverse bar 12 upon the inner end of which is journaled the support- I bars 14 are rigidly fastened to the bar 12 between the ends of the latter and at their outer ends to the outer end portions of the frame bars 13, suitable braces 15 being provided for rigidly connecting the bars 13 and the connected ends of the bars 12 and 13 with the bars 14.

It is to be understood that a gutter is suitably cut along the edge of the roadway as indicated at 16 so as to permit the flanges 11 of the wheels 10 to properly engage the edge of the roadway, and in order to maintain the device from tending to travel in an outward sidewise direction and to thereby maintain the flanges 11 in engagement with the edge of the roadway, a suitable handle is provided upon the outer side of the frame as indicated at 17 adapted to be grasped by an attendant, and forced upon in an inward direction or transversely of the roadway. This handle preferably consists of an inverted U-shaped member having its free lower ends suitably attached to the outer spaced end portions of the frame bars 13 as shown.

A line marking device is rigidly mounted upon the frame 5 adjacent to and at the inner side of the supporting wheel 9. This line marking device may be of any well known or preferred construction, but preferably consists of means for spraying a marking fluid upon the surface of the road including a spray nozzle 18adapted to provide a downwardly projected jet of marking fluid, and a suitable shield for confining the jet so that a symmetrical line of the required width is formed. As shown, the shield embodies a rectangular enclosure 19 rigidly attached at its forward end to the projecting inner end portion of the frame bar 12 so as to be disposed with its lower end in slightly spaced relation to the surface of the roadway as illustrated in-Figure 3 and Figure 8, the enclosure 19 being open at the top and bottom thereof. The shield further embodies a lower section which is freely movable vertically relative to the fixed upper section 19 so as to ride over irregularities in the surface of the roadway and at the same time bear upon the latter so that the marking of the traffic guide line is confined totherequired width; This vertii will be effectively scraped inwardly toward the center of the guide line so that the latter will not be formed with ragged edges. The

nozzle 18 is disposed within the forward end portion of the enclosure 19 as shown clearly in Figure 4 so that the jet of marking fluid will not be distorted by wind and proper marking of the line will be insured. In order to support the nozzle in a proper position the same is carried upon an angular rigid feed pipe 23 including a horizontal upper end portion fixed in a clamp 24 mounted upon the frame bar 12 at the front end of the enclosure 19. This clamp may be of any well known or preferred construction but preferably consists of a pair of members provided with means for drawing the same together and formed at their upper ends with cooperating jaws between which the horizontal upper end portion of the supply pipe 23 is gripped. The supply pipe 23 includes a depending intermediate portion having a cut off valve 25 therein and a .rearwardly projecting horizontal lower end portion upon which the nozzl e 18 is threaded as clearly shown in Figure 5.

When marking the guide line by the use of road oil, the nozzle 18 is preferably in the form shown having a restricted longitudinal outlet port 26 in the lower portion of its rear end through which the oil is adapted to flow, a suitable deflecting plate 27 being mounted upon the rear end of the nozzle but in slightly spaced relation to the latter so that the oil passing outwardly through the port 26 will impinge there'against and thereby be deflected downwardly onto the roadway within the enclosure 19 in a transversely disposed fanshaped spray or jet as indicated in Figure 4. The deflecting plate 27 is mounted upon a stud screw 28 threaded into the end of the nozzle 18, and a spacing and valve plate 29 is also mounted upon the screw 28 between the deflecting plate 27 and the end of the nozzle.

This spacing and valve plate 29 has a'tapered slot 30 extending inwardly from its edge for permitting the desired passage of the marking fluid from the port 26 to the deflectin plate, at the same time permitting the sprea ing of the fluid'into the fan-shaped jet mentioned. Obviously, by turning the plate 29 the same may be caused to partially close ing fluid, and such source of supply prefer,

the outlet end of the port 26 for regulatin to a slight extent'the discharge of the flui However, the supply of the oil or other marking fluid to the nozzle 18 is primarily controlled by the valve 25.

The supply pi e 23 of the nozzle is connected to a suitab e source of supply of markpipe 23 preferably by means of a flexible con-' duit or hose 33. In order to support the hose 33 out of contact with the road a suitable braced supporting rod or bar 34 is mounted upon the rear end of the truck 32 so as to extend rearwardly and inwardly therefrom,

Cal

the free rear end of the bar 34 being provided with a suitable stirrup or fork in which the intermediate portion of the hose 33 is seated.

It is noted that the construction illustrated and described is particularly serviceable when employing road oil as the marking fluid, but it is also apparent that various forms of. paint spraying, apparatus may be employed in connection with the frame 5 and that such paint spraying devices may embody a brush or brushes suitably disposed in the enclosure 19 to spread'the paint upon the road within the space between the runners 20. The frame 5 is provided with a tow bar for facilitating hitching of the same to the truck so as to be drawn ahead by the latter, and this tow'bar preferably embodies a pair of bar members 35 arranged in rearwardly diverging relation and rigidly connected to the frame 5 at their spaced rear ends, the forward ends of the bar members 35 being disposed in side by side contiguous relation and having aligned transverse openings. To couple the forward end of the draw bar to the truck, the latter is provided with a rigid horizontal and transversely disposed rod 36 upon its rear end, which rod slidably projects through the aligned openings in the forward ends of the draw bar members 35, whereby the truck may deviate from a straight line of travel without influencing the marking apparatus or affecting its direction of travel. In other words, the marking apparatus is hitched to the truck so that the latter may move sideways in its forward travel without interfering with maintenance of the marking apparatus, in

a constant line of travel with the flanges 11 constantly engaging the edge of the roadway. This insures permission of marking a true guide line upon the road so that the driver .of the truck 32 need not exercise a great amount of care in causing the truck to travel in a straight line'of movement or in a path parallel with the roadway.

As indicated in Figure 2, the inner end portion of the frame 5 may be equipped with a further upwardly and outwardly pr'oject-' ing handle bar 37 so that an additional at-' tendant may assist in maintaining the frame 5 1n proper position for causing the flanges 11 of the wheels 10 to maintain contact with the edge of the road, such attendant being at the same time in position to superintend the supply of the marking fluidto and from the nozzle 18. In operation, the truck 32 is drawn ahead with an attendant pushing inwardly upon the handle bar 17, the valve 25 being simultaneously opened and the marking fluid suitably forced from the storage tank 31. As the apparatus is drawn forwardly by the truck, the marking fluid is sprayed upon the center of the roadway within the shield so as to rapidly and effectively mark a true and symmetrical traflic guide line upon the center of the road by reason of the j t of marking fluid being directed downwardly onto .the road between the runners 20. Obviously, the flow of the marking fluid can be readily controlled by the valve 25 and the setting of the plate 29 will be determined by condition such as the nature of the marking fluid, etc. As the truck moves forwardly it may deviate from a straight line of travel, in which case the rod 36 will slide through the forward ends of the draw bar members 35 so that no displacement of the marking apparatus in a lateral direction will be had and the proper marking of the guide line upon the cenfler of the roadway will not be interfered wit From the foregoing description it is believed that the construction and operation as well as the advantages of the present invention will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art.

Minor changes may be made without deroadway, line marking means mounted upon the inner end portion of the frame, means to facilitate forward movement of the frame, said line marking means embodying a marking fluid spray nozzle and a shield within which the nozzle is mounted for confining the spray whereby a guide line of the required width is marked upon the roadway, said shield embodying a vertically displaceable lower section adapted to ride upon the surface of the road, said vertically displaceable section of theshield embodying a pairof spaced longitudinally disposed runners having inturned rear ends.

2. A trafiic guide lie marker of the character described, comprising a wheeled supv greater porting structure, a shielding housing closed on four sides and open top and bot-tom, and carried by said structure, a spray nozzle carried by the structure and arranged within said housing, means to facilitate forward movement of the structure, and a vertically disposed shielding runner upon each side of said housing extending longitudinally of the same and adapted to ride upon the surface of the road, said runners being carried upon said housing for vertical movement with respect to the same and further having their rear ends turned inwardly substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. Aroad-Way traflic guide line marker of the character described, comprising a. wheeled supporting structure, a pair of vertically disposed spaced parallel arm members one of length than the other and having its lower end secured to said structure, transversely extending means in association with said arm member for adjustably maintaining the same in position, each of said arms having its upper end of arcuate formation to conform to the curvature of a pipe member, a marking fluid pipe line arranged between the upper end of said arms and secured thereby and having its forward portion turned downwardly and terminating in a rearwardly extending section, a nozzle structure upon said rearwardly extending section, and a shieldii'ig housing carried by said structure and encasing said nozzle and formed to permit marking fluid to pass therefrom to the surface of the road-way therebeneath.

4:. A spray nozzle structure of the character described designed for use in connection with a line marking structure of the character set forth, comprising a marking fluid conveying pipe line having its terminal end formed to be maintained in a horizontal position, a head member threaded upon the terminal end of said pipe comprising a cap-like structure having a'restricted longitudinally extending outlet port opening through the forward endofsaid head, a screw member threaded into the forward end of the head, a deflecting plate carried by said screw member and overlying the forward end of said outlet port, and a spacing and valve plate carried upon said screw and positioned between said deflecting plate and the forward end of said head and having a tapered slot extending inwardly from its edge to permit the passage of a marking fluid from said outlet port to and for contact with said deflecting plate.

5. A trafiic guide line marker, comprising a casing open at its under side, means within the casing for spraying marking fluid through the open under side, a pair of elongated shielding runners arranged on opposite sides of said casing and extending below the lower edge thereof, each of said runners having its rear end turned inwardly, and means for moving said housing and runners over the surface to be marked.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HUGH HENRY. 

